NUMBER 29 AUTUMN / WINTER
2009

Editorial: Politicians become
statesmen in the eyes of voters by solving crises, not by avoiding
them. The message of science is if we wait for global warming to reach
the tipping point it will be too late to reverse a global catastrophe.
The message of economics is that the global recession opens the way for
a massive increase in infrastructure spending necessary to solve both
problems without imposing the burden of higher taxes and interest rates.

Ian McAuley says the
romance of grazing in the outback is starting to wear thin due to
global warming. It is time the industry was reduced and those who
remain employed in land management should do so under an integrated
settlement and conservation policy.

Bryn
Davidson explains that the problems associated with Peak Oil
and climate change overlap so that the policies to reduce emissions and
oil dependence must be mutually reinforcing if they are to be
successful.

John M. Legge argues that
the size of the fiscal stimulus to offset recession must be determined
by the size of the collapse in private spending—in Australia’s case the
boost to spending by the government should be about twice the $42
billion announced so far by the Rudd Government.

Pat Calton
Buoncristiani says
the school league tables introduced by Joel Klein into New York schools
and about to be introduced in Australia as a condition of federal
funding by Julia Gillard are a disaster.

Michael
Faulkner describes
the education policies based on national values of equity,
inclusiveness and social justice which have made Finland top of the
OECD’s student assessment for key competencies.

Harry
Glasbeek argues
that the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation was rejected by
the electorate because it raised the spectre of a class-divided
society. WorkChoices overtly threatened the legitimate existence of
trade unions. The new legislation undermines union power by
constraining the right to industry bargaining and the right to strike.

Catherine
Scott claims
that the failure to provide character-forming education leaves a large
number of children rudderless, uncertain and struggling to create a
meaningful existence for themselves.

Peter Baume contends that
the rapid ageing of the population, and the exponential growth in
dementia in particular, will require new thinking about what
constitutes the good life and the responsibilities of the shrinking
share of the working age population.

Maher
Mughrabi looks at
the consequences for an enduring peace between the Palestinians and
Israel as a result of the election of President Obama. Obama will have
to make the case for genuine Palestinian sovereignty which will require
a big change in US public opinion.

John L.
Perkins points
out that Islam is the only religion founded by a military leader. He
argues that any religion should be subject to rational evaluation. Only
without the thrall of warrior religions can we aspire to live in a more
benign world.

Derek Woolner traces the
history of how the Howard Government got Australia into the Iraq war.

Phillip
Mendes argues
that the extra cost of helping wards of the state to make the full
transition into independent adulthood after the age of 18—like most
families—is a social investment which will pay off for the community in
the long run.

NOTE
FOR EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: For
permission to reprint articles, or for interviews, contact Kenneth
Davidson or Lesley Vick on tel/fax 03 9347 7839 or email dissentmagazine@dissent.com.au

D!SSENT is
published 3 times a year, is available on subscription
and is on sale
nationally at
newsagents and major bookshops.